The Austin Police Department has reported the arrest of a suspect following the fatal shooting of an off-duty deputy from a nearby jurisdiction late on Sunday night.

The deputy, whose identity was confirmed as a member of the Caldwell County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, was killed while off duty. This office is situated approximately 45 minutes from Austin.

The tragedy occurred while the deputy was providing security at a venue in north Austin, with Austin police confirming the incident took place at Club Rodeo.

“Our deputy, while serving in an off-duty security capacity at an Austin location, was tragically involved in a shooting,” stated the Caldwell County precinct in a Facebook announcement.

Tragically, on January 4, 2026, the off-duty deputy lost his life in a shooting incident at Club Rodeo in Austin, Texas. (Google Maps)

Authorities said a suspect was apprehended later in the afternoon by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from APD Air Support and K-9 units, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Austin police said officers first responded to the scene just after 2 a.m. and found the Caldwell County deputy in the parking lot “with trauma to his body.”

Caldwell officials added that he was transported to a local hospital, where he “succumbed to his injuries.”

Security team members wearing cowboy hats on July 11, 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

The investigation remains ongoing. Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying any witnesses or suspects who may have been at Club Rodeo around the time of the shooting, Austin police said.

Caldwell County officials said the agency will not yet release the victim’s identity out of respect for his family’s privacy.

“Out of respect for our Deputy and his family, we ask that their privacy be honored,” the agency said. “Additional information will be provided if appropriate.”

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a Caldwell County Constable’s Deputy,” Caldwell County Precinct 2 said in a Facebook post.

“Please keep this Deputy’s family, loved ones, and our fellow deputies in your prayers as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.”